Put-in-Bay police department to be assessed

PUT-IN-BAY – An operational assessment is in the works for the Put-in-Bay Police Department, Chief Rick Lampela confirmed Friday morning.

Mayor Margaret Scarpelli announced the decision during a public forum Thursday evening, he said.

"There's going to be one [an operational assessment] and I couldn't be happier," Lampela said. "It's going to go point by point and show what's really going on. I look forward to knowing what we can correct. I'm very happy."

Scarpelli, who grew up in Put-in-Bay and is in her third year in office, said she would like to start the assessment within a month's time.

"Some complaints have been voiced," she said. "I think it would be better to have a transparency for that."

Port Clinton attorney and village law director for Put-in-Bay, George Wilber, will select a firm to complete the assessment, Scarpelli said.

"We would just like to have an objective review," she said.

So far in 2014, there have been 15 reported incidents in which people believed they were drugged. Lampela said none of the cases have been confirmed as a possible drugging.

This is the first time the department has gone through an operational assessment, Lampela and Scarpelli said.

"I just love my community, and I want there to be safety in that community," Scarpelli said. "We're very close-knit here, and we want our visitors to be safe."